New top-down fun from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani.

Praise must also go to the hydraulic power-assisted steering, which is highly accurate, well weighted, sufficiently communicative and provides a steering lock to rival London taxis. The steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach, and well-contoured sport seats ensure a first-class driving position. The large tachometer, redlined at 8600 rpm and including the computer display screen, is just ahead of the driver. The air-conditioning system is simple to operate, but the navigation system is complicated and its screen is too small for easy reading. Shelves and bins are rather scarce, but there is ample space for coats, books and wallets behind the seats, and the cockpit's insulation against heat from the engine is excellent. A truly great car! — Paul Frère

Pagani Zonda Roadster

Price

est $654,500

Engine/Valvetrain

dohc 7.3-liter V-12

Transmission

6-speed manual

Layout

mid engine/rear drive

Horsepower (SAE)

547 bhp @ 5900 rpm

Torque

553 lb-ft @ 4050 rpm

0–60

est 3.7 sec

Curb weight

est 2920 lb

Most Popular

Pagani Zonda Roadster
Topless supercar for any speed.

MODENA, Italy — A recent visit to Pagani's little factory in a suburb of Modena provided an occasion to have a close look at his latest creation — the Pagani Zonda Roadster — and to drive it on the roads of the Abetone region of central Italy. A specialist in the production of carbon-fiber components, Pagani has very cleverly reinforced the monocoque structure of the Roadster in such a way that, regardless of the deletion of the roof, extremely satisfactory torsional and beam stiffness have been obtained at a weight penalty of only 44 lb.

The car looks all the better for the absence of a roof. With the help of a small wind deflector between the twin roll-over hoops, the side windows and the sharply raked windshield provide excellent protection against the gales created by the car's phenomenal performance, whatever the speed at which it is driven.

A completely detachable soft top provides weather protection. The rigid carbon-fiber top can be installed single-handed in a few minutes. When not in use, it neatly stores in the front luggage locker. Pagani promises that the car can be driven at its 205-mph maximum speed with the top fixed in place.

All Zondas are now powered by the latest 7.3-liter version of the Mercedes-Benz AMG 4-valve V-12 developing 547 bhp at 5900 rpm and 553 lb.-ft. of torque at 4050 rpm. With the help of an excellent 6-speed gearbox, this is a car that will do 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 4 seconds.

However, the engine is so flexible that the Zonda roadster will putter around town at 31 mph in 6th gear and yet accelerate without hesitation. Other supercars may have even more power, but none, if official figures are to be believed, is as light as the Pagani, which is reflected in its agility and fabulous performance.

The Roadster I drove had the softest suspension available, which provides excellent comfort by supercar standards, together with superb handling. For fast roadwork, I certainly prefer it to the harder settings of previous Paganis I've driven, even if the latter may be better on the racetrack.

Since the start of Zonda production in early 2000, Pagani has built 50 cars and has several more on order. Customers are invited to visit his small factory in San Cesare-sul-Panaro, where they can admire the beautiful design of the car's underpinnings and the care and love with which they are built. — Paul Frère